2 Responses to “Will Wilkinson Interviews Jonathan Haidt”

This is a facinating topic! The fairness and reciprocity category makes me wonder if we’re talking about helping others (who helped us in the past) who need it, or if it means I give you a gift, you give me a gift. I learned much of my new found morality from my Native American friends, who beleive that it is an insult to turn down a gift. It seems like instantly reciprocating would be disingenuous. I realized that simply helping others when they need it, and buying gifts my “group” would really like when I find those things, is better.

I object to the idea that liberals have no mindset for in group morality. It simply takes a different form. Obviously most liberals are not forming groups of all white guys blocking out African Americans – instead it takes the form of community groups. My friends who form land trusts and even people who work with stray animals form huge networks. Those who own medical supply stores give away free medicine to feral cat rescuers. Neighbors watch out for land owners who abuse conservation areas. I could give many more examples!

I’m a liberal voter, but I’m otherwise very socially conservative. Most of the liberals in my circle won’t tolerate swearing, poorly behaved children, etc. And I live in Massachusetts! I hope we can continue to study and revisit this subject. ;)

By the way I am not questioning the legitimacy of Haidt’s research, I just think that saying something like “Liberals are like this…..” is much less specific than saying “Our study found that 85 percent of liberals scored only a 3 on the Respect for Authority” scale. That way it can be left to interpretation by those reading. ;)